LONGMONT — Patrick Martien had just 15 at-bats his senior prep season with the Longmont baseball team. But he’s finding his role as a do-it-all guy for the Longmont Twins Legion A summer team.
In Monday’s 12-2 loss to the Rocky Mountain Lobos, there was plenty of need for Martien’s play-hard-anywhere attitude.
“I came in and tried to throw strikes, you know, try to do my part,” Martien said. “I put a lot of work in through practice and try to really buy into our coaches. I’ve been given an opportunity out here and I’m just working hard for it. I’m thankful for the opportunity to show the coaches what I’ve got.”
Martien, who Twins coach Colt Sedbrook describes as “one of my gamers,” prides himself on competing every game wherever he plays. He pitched 31/3 innings in relief of Joey Stauss and lined out twice on Monday.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but his hustle was a welcome sight for the Twins, who felt they didn’t come ready to play.
Twins catcher Greg Spurgin, a Centaurus graduate who plays for Western Nebraska Community College, went 1-for-2. He doubled and later scored in the sixth inning.
“We just weren’t quite there mentally, myself included,” Spurgin said. “We’ll just take it as a learning experience and make sure we’re there every inning.”
The Lobos banged out 16 hits against the Twins, who are now 7-5 on the young season.
Nine-hole hitter Brandon Moore got the Twins’ first hit, a two-out single in the third inning. Colby Grinde and Julian Moroyoqui drove in their two runs and Dylan Pollock had their third hit.
Sedbrook said his players weren’t as prepared to play as they should have been. That’s something, he said, each individual will need to work on moving forward through the rigorous Legion schedule.
“It has to do with a lot of preparation as far as ‘How am I going to come to the field? How am I going to go about my way as far as a player, as far as an individual?'” Sedbrook said. “With summer ball being as demanding as it is getting out there pretty much every day playing the game of baseball, I think these guys are having a hard time making that adjustment.”
Sedbrook said the Twins started flat and lacked intensity throughout the game. He said the Lobos exposed their lack of focus, much like Brighton did in sweeping a doubleheader the week before.
“You’re not going to do very well and you’re not going to be very good throughout the summer if you come out flat every game,” Sedbrook said. “When you play good ball clubs, you gotta show up.”
The Twins are scheduled to play a road doubleheader against the Lobos on Wednesday. The game is still scheduled, but may be moved because of the High Park Fire near Fort Collins.
The Twins were without former Longmont standout Reilly Mau and former Frederick standout Jaron Balman on Monday.
Follow Brad on Twitter: @BradCochi
Lobos 12, Twins 2
At Skyline H.S.
Lobos 131 212 2 — 12 16 0
Twins 000 001 1 — 2 3 3
W — Stajduchar. L — Stauss
Lobos hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) — Ibarra 4-4-3-1, Raber 5-1-2-1, Elsheimer 0-0-0-0, Stajduchar 4-1-3-3, Ciraula 0-1-0-0, Gamble 5-1-3-2, Thomas 3-0-0-0, Hahn 1-0-0-0, Stevens 3-1-2-2, Anderson 4-1-1-0, Madigan 4-0-1-0, Richer 0-1-0-0, Lawson 3-1-1-1, Totals 38-12-16-10. 2B — Stajduchar 2, Ibarra, Gamble, Stevens. SB — Ibarra 2, Elsheimer.
Twins hitting (ab-r-h-rbi) — Kramer 2-0-0-0, Reigle 2-0-0-0, Moroyoqui 2-0-0-1, Stauss 1-0-0-0, Martien 2-0-0-0, Reynolds 3-0-0-0, Spurgin 2-1-1-0, Grinde 2-0-0-1, Pollock 3-1-1-0, Moore 2-0-1-0, Totals 21-2-3-2. 2B — Reigle, Spurgin. SB — Reigle.
Lobos pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Stajduchar 5-1-0-0-2-5, Hahn 1-1-1-1-2-0, Richer 1-1-1-1-0-0.
Twins pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Stauss 3 1/2-11-7-7-1-1, Martien 3 1/2-5-3-1-1.
